James Winstanley

5

Lyn Greacen on 5th June 2019

1819 - Upon his arrival in the colony James was assigned to one of the carpenter gangs engaged in Governor Macquarie's extensive building program. 1824 - At the age of 20 years, James Winstanley volunteered his services, with the hope of gaining his ticket-of-leave, to help establish a penal settlement at Moreton Bay. Along with 29 other assigned convicts James sailed from Sydney on the Government brig Amity on the 1st September 1824 arriving at Red Cliff Point on 14th September 1824. During this period he was engaged in felling timber, cross-cut sawing and shingle splitting. 1826 - On the 9th October 1826 James returned to Sydney aboard the 'Commandant', arriving on the 19th October, with a letter from Captain Logan saying that 'services no longer required', hoping to be rewarded with a ticket-of-leave for his voluntary service. 1828 - At the age of 24, the 1828 census of N.S.W., reveals that James was still a Government Servant and was assigned to Colonel Stewart at Bathurst, N.S.W., as a sawyer. 1828 - James received his Ticket-of-Leave No.28/367 dated 18th August 1828. On the 21st June 1833 James made application to marry Priscilla Woodford. James and Priscilla were married on the 29th July 1833 by Rev. John Espy Keane, 'in the place of worship, by banns, with consent of the Government', at Bathurst. Entry No.269 Vol.No.17. 1833 - On the 9th November 1833 James received his Certificate of Freedom No.33/1273. Between the years 1834 - 1850 the couple's first six children were born and baptised in the Surry Hills and Woolloomooloo suburbs of Sydney. The Government Gazette dated 16 November 1842 made reference to "the insolvent Estate of James Winstanley, of Woolloomooloo, Carpenter". Birth, death and marriage records reveal that the family were residing at Dundee, Glen Elgin and Rocky River on the New England Tablelands. The embryo township of Glen Innes was established in the early 1850s and the first land sales took place in June 1855. The Winstanley family were amongst the earliest settlers in Glen Innes. They purchased land at the earliest land sales and through hard work and endeavour they appeared to have prospered. 1867-68 - The National Directory reveals that in 1867-8 James was listed as a Bailiff, Glen Innes. 1868-69 - James renewed his auctioneer's licence in 1868 and in 1869 he received a timber licence which he still held in 1876. James and his son John erected the wood work of the original section of Holy Trinity Church. The stone Church of England church was consecrated in 1868. The church has been extended over the years but the beautiful timber ceiling in the original section can still be seen, a fitting tribute to the quality workmanship of the Winstanley father and son. 1869-71 - The Glen Innes Electoral Rolls for 1869-1871 list James as a freehold land owner. 1871-71 - Again the Government Gazette reveals that James held an auctioneer's licence in 1871-2 and an additional licence in 1874-5. 1872 - Greville's Post Office Directory - 1872 Winstanley, J.B., Balliff & Butcher, Grey Street, Glen Innes, NSW. 1875 - The Glen Innes Examiner dated 18 August 1875 made known that James had tendered a quote for 230 pounds (£230) to build the race course grandstand. Surviving personal letters, handwritten by James between November 1877 to June 1878 to his daughter Henrietta on behalf of himself and Priscilla, make interesting reading and add a personal dimension to the family story. They show him to be a caring parent; interested in the activities of various family members; and concerned about news from England pertaining to property in London that he believed he was entitled to inherit. These letters were signed J. B. & P. Winstanley. 1882 - James died at his home in Guy Street, Glen Innes, on 13th September 1882, and was buried on 15th September 1882 in the Church of England portion, Section D, Grave No.310, of the Glen Innes cemetery. Death Registration No. 1882/8184 Entry No.815 Occupation recorded as Carpenter on Death Certificate.